Economic Development for Women

The Economic Development Program focuses on supporting women to learn new skills that they can then use to generate income for themselves and their families. Trade Schools in various communities allow the participants to learn skills in embroidery, weaving, agriculture and food service. Additional workshops on business skills, leadership and family entrepreneurship support the women’s attempts to start their own businesses and there are also small loans available, at low interest rates, to further help the women get started. 

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Paso Por Paso was instrumental in establishing the Economic Development Program with a $25,000 donation in 2021. Some of this money continues to be used for microloans. While in Guatemala this year, we met Lucrezia, who was receiving her second loan. With the first, she had expanded her embroidery business and opened a tortilleria where she employed three local women to make tortillas in the mornings. Paso Por Paso donated $4,000 to the Economic Development Program in the last year. 

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